Mr. Grant Kendall Evins was born May 31, 1981 at Newport the youngest child of Shelley Ford Evins and Phyllis Gail Smith Evins. He departed this life joining his brother, Kevin, and his grandparents in Paradise on January 4, 2014. Grant was 32 years old.

He was a member of the Newport High School Class of 2002. So beloved by his class and community, Grant received a standing ovation when he received his diploma at graduation. During high school, he was a member of the U.S. Army ROTC, FFA, and the Greyhound Staff. Grant’s Senior quote appropriately read, “Cherish yesterday, live today, and dream of tomorrow.”

He was a self-employed farmer and worked at Holden-Conner in Newport. Grant loved being a part of the Holden-Conner team and proudly promoted the business by sharing his business cards with everyone he met. He kept in touch with the Holden-Conner team by cell phone daily, giving instructions on what needed to be done. He loved farming and his first task of the day was to print and share the USDA Daily News with his Dad.

Grant loved the United States of America. He shared his love of country and patriotism by placing flags on the graves of deceased veterans and presenting flags to veterans at church. His love of country fostered an interest in history and politics. Grant began voting as soon as he was allowed the privilege and he conscientiously voted in every election since that time. Always protective and concerned for the underdog, Grant made known his concern to about taxes posing a hardship on people.

He was always interested in things that were happening in and around Jackson County. Grant enjoyed reading about the accomplishments of his friends and neighbors in the local newspaper. He also monitored the internet for news of his community.

Grant was a beloved and faithful member of the Holden Avenue Church of Christ.

This extraordinary young man touched many lives in his 32 years. Grant was loved by all who knew him and he returned that love to each person he met ten fold. Grant’s interests and abilities were tremendous, but nothing exceeded the boundless love he had for his friends, family, and Jesus.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Kevin Douglas Evins, on June 24, 1995, paternal grandparents, Clarence Douglas Evins and Minnie Mae (Ford) Evins, his maternal grandparents, Bynum B. Smith and Esther (Hess) Smith, and his uncle, C.A. Evins.

Grant is survived by his devoted and loving mother and constant companion, Phyllis Gail (Smith) Evins of the home; his loving father, Shelly Ford Evins of Newport; his beloved sister, Kim Evins Montgomery of Newport; his precious niece, Madison Grace Montgomery of Newport; devoted aunts and uncles, Bill and Doralea Smith of Jonesboro, Peggy Bigham of Jonesboro, Dot and Jay Jackson of Cleveland, Tennessee, Janice Pollard of Jonesboro, Mike Smith of Ft. Worth, Texas, Norma Jo and Stan Madden of Beedeville, and Ellen Beede of Sherwood; a beloved caregiver, Jessie Arnold Phillips of Newport/and a host of cousins and a lifetime of friends.

Friends may visit at the funeral home, Wednesday, January 8, 2014, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral Service will be held, Thursday, January 9, 2014, at 1:00 p.m. at Holden Avenue Church of Christ with Mr. Glen Knabe, Mr. Mike Wood, and Mr. J.C. McMinn officiating. Interment will be at the Carter Cemetery in the Pennington Community.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Charles Barnes, John Chronister, Mickey Doyle, John Conner, Jr., Max Felts, Randy Williams, Bill Landreth, Jeff Evins, Michael Lewellyn, and Perry Smith. Honorary pallbearers are Newport High School Class of 2002, John Conner, Sr., Floyd Campbell, Guy Dale Adams, Alfred Couch, and Marcus Harris.